Dad and I have had a big weekend. There was a big youth activity Saturday morning at our church (for the Stake, which means lots of travel for everyone outside Bismarck.) Then seminary graduation Saturday afternoon, which went very nicely. We did a lot of work to prepare for that - collecting lists of stake awards and special recognitions for students and teachers, printing the program, arranging music, printing diplomas and Stake President's Awards, etc - but all went very well. I played the organ for the graduation - my first chance since coming here. (don't want to get too rusty).

A special treat was that the missionaries here before us, Lund and Karen Johnson from Pocatello, came for the graduation and we got to meet them. It was so fun to see them face to face, and we visited all weekend about various things. They had a busy schedule seeing the people they wanted to see, but we ended up at the same activities. They are great people and we are very happy to know them.

Today was Branch Conference in the two branches on the Reservation - McLaughlin South Dakota (10 to 1), and Ft. Yates (1-3). We attended both, and I played the piano for both meetings. All the Stake people also attended both - following each other in cars down to McL and then back to Ft. Yates, and finally home. You will notice that the small branches only have a 2 hour block, but most people drive a ways to get there. For us it's 1 1/2 hrs each way to Ft. Y. (McL is another half hour further). That would be like driving from HR to Ft. Collins each week for church. If we drove that far in Colo, we'd be in traffic all the way. Here we drive along the Missouri River, a very quiet ride (at 65 mph) - past buffalo, cows, horses, wild turkeys, fields turning green, flooding (we see willow trees putting on leaves, and the water covers their entire trunks) and other signs of spring. We enjoy the drive very much.

Saturday at the stake youth activity, we walked into the gym and knew the name of every seminary-aged teenager there. It was a great feeling to be able to visit with each one. We are beginning to feel very much at home here. All is well. Thanks for your continued prayers.

Love - Mom